Agri View: Resuming Beef Trade

Well, China is buying American beef again. It is not what cattlemen would like to see, but it is happening.

China stopped buying American beef 14 years ago. There is still no formal trade agreement between the two countries but, individual buyers, you know like restaurants and other food groups can place orders with U.S. suppliers and have it delivered. But, that is not open trade.

Look, U.S. farm exports generate over a million full-time jobs for nonfarm workers. The more we export, the more jobs we generate.

If China went back to full beef import trade with the U.S. Those beef shipments would create hundreds of civilian jobs. Jobs that do not exist right now.

And remember, that 14 year period of business loss is the result of one case of Mad Cow Disease.